Standard Research Center Orientation

The RRC offers orientations led by our librarians and curators, who provide students with an overview of the Rhode Island Historical Society, the RRC, and our varied collections. Each orientation option includes a selection of materials from collections to support a chosen topic (see topic list below). Our librarians will also provide students with a resource list with collection highlights for the chosen topic. Topic options for standard orientation:

• Introduction to Research in a Special Collections Library
  Our librarians provide students an introduction to our catalogs, finding aids, online galleries, indexes, and comprehensive research strategies and tips for making the best use of their research time.
• Researching Early Rhode Island History
  The RRC holds excellent resources on the settlement of the colony in 1636 by Roger Williams and the native peoples who preceded him. Our librarians will provide an overview of our earliest collections documenting Rhode Island history.
• Rhode Island and the Slave Trade
  Our librarians provide students with key strategies for using the collections pertinent to the slave trade and related industries. Materials include an in-depth review of the “Papers of the American Slave Trade” collection on microfilm, as well as the “Guide to People of Color in the RIHS Collections.”
• Rhode Island Women’s History
  Students will learn about strategies for researching women in Rhode Island, including highlights from personal papers, diaries, and women’s organizations prominent in Rhode Island.
• Introduction to Architectural Research
  The RIHS architectural collections are extensive — and can sometimes be overwhelming! This orientation will focus on researching Rhode Island’s built environment through architectural drawings, maps, photographs, industrial reports, and other resources.
• Avi’s Something Upstairs
  Our librarians provide a first-hand look at manuscript collections, microfilmed newspapers, and maps related to the people, places, and events depicted in Something Upstairs. This is followed by a group discussion about how collections like ours are used to develop historical fiction.
• National History Day Theme
  Our librarians will share primary resources from the collections reflecting the current NHD theme. Students will then get a chance to ask librarians for research strategies for their projects.